The Historical Conquests of...In the modern hierarchy of Dylan/Springsteen acolytes, 30-year-old Josh Ritter stands surprisingly tall. The Idaho native has made an almost stealthy...The Historical Conquests of...RockIn the modern hierarchy of Dylan/Springsteen acolytes, 30-year-old Josh Ritter stands surprisingly tall. The Idaho native has made an almost stealthy...2007-08-31

In the modern hierarchy of Dylan/Springsteen acolytes, 30-year-old Josh Ritter stands surprisingly tall. The Idaho native has made an almost stealthy ascent, releasing several fine folk-pop CDs over the past five years. His latest, The Historical Conquests of…, a sprawling diorama of down-home rhythms and thoughtful lyrics, isn’t immediately striking. But there’s a joy in unfurling the half-submerged melodies and wry, tender sentiments — from the sadness of ”The Temptation of Adam” to the roadhouse glee of ”Real Long Distance.” A-